Thursday, February 12, 2009

An Alzheimer's Plea

By: Fred A. DasThe song of the birds, I cannot hear, The flowers, I cannot smell.I cannot remember, the ones I loved, And things I knew so well.I cannot see the wondrous sights, My eyes no longer can see,The setting sun, the stars at night, The beauty of a Tree,I cannot cry, I have no tears, And yet my heart is filled with fears.I cannot speak as I did before, My voice has faded away.I'm in a world all of my own, I cannot even pray.I know no difference between day and night, Time means nothing to me.I cannot tell the wrongs from right, Oh! God, What has happened to me,I long to feel the tender touch, Of Someone to light the way,Someone to lead me out of my world, And turn the night into day.I need a strong and gentle hand, Someone who understands,Someone who would guide me, Out of these strange and siatnce lands.I have had this poem on our refrigerator for years to remind us all: friends, family and caregivers, what it's like for Mike and others with Alzheimer's Disease every day of their lives.

About Me

My husband Mike was diagnosed at the age of 36 with Young Onset Alzheimer's Disease. For almost 11 years, my children & I took care of Mike at home - until he passed away on February 28, 2012 at the age of 47. When Mike was first diagnosed, he gave me "permission" to place him in a nursing home, but I chose not to do that. With the help of my children, family &aides, I kept the promise to myself that I would keep him home until the "end". I began this blog about 5 years ago to keep family and friends updated on Mike's condition as he weathered some difficult health issues and hospitalizations. During the process, it became a method for me to vent about issues that directly effected us as a family caring for someone with AD. Nothing along this journey has been easy & I will continue to advocate & be the voice for all those patients who have been silenced by Alzheimer's Disease. NO ONE SURVIVES ALZHEIMER'S, the disease does not discriminate and I will do all I can to make a difference. My faith has been my strength and we have been blessed with MANY angels along the way.
Mike will always be my hero!